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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Longing by Karen Kingsbury was sent to me as an advanced review copy by Zondervan Publishing. It is the third in the ‘Bailey Flanigan’ series by this author. You can read my review of the first book in this series, Leaving, on my blog here. My review of the second book in this series, Learning, can be found here.

We pick up in Longing where the previous book left off. Bailey is visiting her family in Bloomington over the Thanksgiving holiday. She has a short break from her role in the cast of Hairspray on Broadway. While Bailey is at home, the Flanigan family attends the state high school football championships, and her former boyfriend, Cody, is the head coach of one of the teams. Bailey is still in a dating relationship with Brandon Paul, a famous Hollywood actor, but her lingering feelings for her first love, Cody, still surprise her at times.

After a short talk with Cody at the football game, Bailey returns to her life in New York with the show and with Brandon, who is currently filming in New York. Cody goes back to his life with the football team and with Cheyenne, whose health continues to deteriorate.

Even though they are living separate lives, Bailey and Cody still wonder if they have made the right decisions and if they might someday find their way back to each other.

After being less than thrilled with the first two books in this series, I’m beginning to settle in and be able to enjoy these books a little bit. Longing is definitely my favorite in the Bailey Flanigan series so far. While it did get a little boring in the middle, and there was still too much (what felt like teenage) angst between Bailey and Cody, the last half of the book seemed to finally be getting somewhere.

The plotline that follows the relationships with Bailey and her cast-mates was handled much more realistically in this book. Bailey took time to get to know the people who came to her Bible study, and it was through these relationships that she was able to be a light for Christ. It seemed as if in the other books she would just spout off a verse or say she would pray for them without really getting to know them or show love to them in practical ways. I guess her approach in Longing just felt more genuine and relational rather than the ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude she seemed to have in the first two books.

As for the relationship between Cody and Cheyenne, despite the sad direction Cheyenne’s health took, I liked what happened. I appreciated that the author had Cheyenne’s words and feelings go in a different direction than I was expecting. What she told Cody towards the end was so wise and mature.

And that is what made me like this book better than the others – the characters finally seemed to grow up.

I still think there was no need for this storyline to be spread across four books, but I am looking forward to reading Loving, the last book in this series, next March.

As the best so far in this series, Longing is a more realistic and satisfying lead-in to the final book.

I will give Longing by Karen Kingsbury … 3 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Learning by Karen Kingsbury was sent to me as a review copy by Zondervan Publishing. It is the second in the Bailey Flanigan series by this author.

In Leaving (the first novel in this series…you can read my review on my blog here), Bailey sets off for New York City to be part of the cast of Hairspray on Broadway. Cody Coleman (Bailey’s former boyfriend) is the new coach of the Lyle High School football team, and his friend, Cheyenne, has just been in a car accident and is in a coma. Before she leaves, Bailey visits Cody at the hospital (where he is sitting by Cheyenne’s bedside) to basically tell him that their relationship is over for good, even as friends.

We join Bailey and Cody where the previous book left off, Bailey starting her life in NYC, and Cody dealing with Cheyenne’s coma. From there, we witness the next few months of their lives.

Bailey settles into her life on Broadway, but everything is not as good as it could be. Most of the cast feels she only got the part because of her previous movie role, and she struggles to keep up with the pace of the show. She also feels ostracized from the rest of the cast because of her Christian faith. However, Brandon Paul (the actor who was in the movie with Bailey) makes his way to NYC whenever he can, and Bailey is drawn to him much more than she thought she would be, maybe even as more than friends.

Cody is determined to turn the football program at Lyle High around, and he feels the best way to do this is to meet the players where they are, not just on the field, but off of it as well. During Cheyenne’s recovery, his feelings for her grow every day. But still he thinks about Bailey and what they might have had together.

As Cody and Bailey spend time apart, they each grow closer to another. And they realize they have a lot of learning to do in the process.

Even though I have been a fan of Christian fiction for a long time, this is only the second Karen Kingsbury novel that I have read (Leaving being the first). I usually stick to historical fiction rather than contemporary, so that is why Karen Kingsbury and I have never really crossed paths, book-wise. However, so many ladies I know enjoy Karen Kingsbury books that I thought I would give this series a try.

I will say that I enjoyed this novel more than the previous one. In Leaving, Bailey appeared so perfect that she seemed to be right out of a fairy tale. In Learning, she finally seems to struggle with things that the rest of us come in contact with every day in the ‘real world.’ Bailey finds herself in the midst of a world (the theater and Broadway) that does not look kindly on Christians, and she must decide how she is going to react.

However, the way she handled this situation was sorely lacking, in my opinion. I won’t go into too much detail about it, since that is a big part of the story, but I was just disappointed that she chose to go the route that she did. I guess you could say that she stood up for her faith, but it seemed as if she could have done things differently. Jesus served and loved those who were looked down upon by society. He formed relationships with them. He didn’t just preach to them, he met them where they were. But, I will say that the author did handle some touchy issues well during these scenes with Bailey and her cast-mates.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Cody’s story in this book a lot. I love football, so that helped me enjoy that part of the story even more. But what I really liked was how he took the time to care about his team and to get to know them as individuals instead of just as football players. He invested in their lives, and they were able to see Jesus shine through him. You can kind of see where the story is going in relation to the football games, but it was still a fun ride.

(One thing I have to mention, though, is that during the part where the team goes to football camp, they visit Butler University in Indiana. Butler is described by the author as being a beautiful campus that is far enough outside Indianapolis to be surrounded by cornfields. Now, I have never actually walked on Butler’s campus, only driven by it, and it is pretty, but it is not rural, it is near downtown Indianapolis. I live in Indiana. You have to get pretty far outside of Indianapolis before you start seeing cornfields again. I don’t mind authors taking some poetic license when it comes to descriptions, but this was too much. If you use a real place, make it real, please. Don’t upset your Indiana readers by saying something that is incorrect.)

I could go on and on for several pages (and not in a good way) about the romantic part of this story. "But, no, there is too much. Let me sum up." (*Gold star to anyone who can identify where that quote comes from!*) Cody and Bailey both still have feelings for each other and think about each other all the time. However, they have started friendships (or more-than-friendships) with Cheyenne (for Cody) and Brandon (for Bailey). It is already getting tiring, and we are just on the second book out of four in this series. It even at times feels as if these characters are in Junior High. (Bailey actually spends lots of time ‘stalking’ Cody on Facebook). I felt so sorry for Brandon through the whole thing because Bailey is obviously using him so that she doesn’t spend her time thinking about Cody. Maybe I am just past the point in my life where I can read books about people in their early twenties. Or maybe Cody and Bailey need to just have a long conversation and decide like adults whether they are going to be together or not. (I know, I know, these are just characters in a book. But it just feels as if time is being wasted by draging this plot out over four books).

I didn’t even include the story of Ashley and Landon in my description of this book because it seems so out of place. I think the only reason it is included is so that the Baxter family (the extended family that many other Karen Kingsbury novels have been about) will be represented.

I enjoyed this second title in the Bailey Flanigan series more than the first, especially Cody’s relationship with the guys on his football team. But the rest of the plot is the same thing that has been told in previous books. If you are a fan of Karen Kingsbury, you will enjoy the continuing saga. If you are new to this author, I advise starting at the very beginning with the “Redemption” series.

I will give Learning by Karen Kingsbury ... 2 ½ BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friday, December 23, 2011

“The world was about to change forever. And it almost went by unnoticed…”

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones, with paintings by Alison Jay, is a lyrical retelling of the Christmas story that shows the excitement that went through all of creation at the moment Jesus came to the earth.

This is a children’s book, but I was totally captivated by this story. Each page shows and tells about different aspects of our world – the wind, the trees, the animals, the stars – as they whisper to each other, “It’s time! It’s time!” The anticipation builds until at last Jesus arrives and creation celebrates the Light of the World and the Prince of Peace.

Each time I read this book to my daughter, she is captivated as well. When I read, “It’s time!” she says, “What? What is it?” When we get to the end, she is so excited to see Baby Jesus. My heart is glad as well, not just for my own sake but because it is so touching to see my baby girl come alive with the knowledge of Christ coming to Earth.

As I read this book, several verses came to mind. These are the ones that reflect my feelings the best:

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for He comes; He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.” – Psalm 96:11-13 (NIV)

What a wondrous thought to think that creation rejoiced at His coming. Just imagine what it will be like when He returns to reign forever!

Song of the Stars is a magnificent book. It is a fresh, relevant, and touching way to tell the story of the coming of our Savior. My family will treasure this story for years to come.

I will give Song of the Stars … 5 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zonderkidz. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Uncover all sorts of hidden surprises as Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem. This giant flap book is perfect for little hands and curious minds, with over thirty flaps to peek under. Illustrated in a clean, bright art style, the strong primary colors stimulate interactive learning.

Click here for more information about this book and to see an excerpt.

My Take:

This is a nice little book for the Christmas season that is also a Lift-the-Flap book. Mary and Joseph journey to Bethlehem and Jesus is born. The illustrations in this board book are nice. They have bright colors and are not too cartoon-y.

While there are several flaps to lift on each page, the flaps do not really have much to do with the story. In other words, the flaps don't 'interact' with the story very much. You read about Joseph and Mary journeying to Bethlehem and lift a flap on that page to find a butterfly or a rabbit. Cute, but not really related to the story.

My daughter liked lifting the flaps, though, and we liked the picture of the animals and the manger.

I will give Christmas Stable ... 3 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications as a review copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."﻿

Three forest trees dream of what they will one day become. One dreams of becoming a royal throne; one of being a ship that can withstand any storm; and one longs to stay in the forest and grow as tall as tall can be. When they are felled, it seems their dreams are over. But as each tree is crafted into a new item--a manger, a fishing boat, and a rugged cross—it becomes clear that through the role they play in one important life, their hopes are more than fulfilled.

This traditional folktale is accompanied by stylish artwork from a highly sought-after children's book illustrator, and will help set the Christmas and Easter stories into the overall context of the Christian faith.

Click here to find more information about this book and to read an excerpt.

My Take:

When I recieved this book for review, I vaguely remembered having heard this story sometime in the past. So, I was eager to read it again and to see if it was as good as I remembered.

It was.

This is a touching tale of three trees who each have different dreams for their future. But what they become is far more than they ever could have dreamed. We especially enjoyed reading about the humble tree that becomes the cross on which our Savior dies for our sins.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. The only thing that I thought was odd about them was that some of the people in the pictures are dressed in what looks like clothing from the prairie days in America: dresses with aprons on the women and pants with suspenders on the men. I don't think that is the way people dressed in Israel at the time of Christ, so this part of the book just didn't ring true with me.

Apart from the somewhat odd clothing, the story in this book is amazing, and we enjoyed it very much.

I will give The Three Trees ... 4 Bookworms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications as a review copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."﻿

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Three years ago at Christmastime, Mattie Eash’s childhood sweetheart, Gideon Beiler, broke her heart. Since then, Mattie has picked up the pieces of her life. She moved to Ohio, started her own cake shop, and even found a new beau.

But when she must return home due to unforeseen circumstances, Mattie comes face-to-face with Gideon and with the truth that has been hiding all these years.

Christmas is a special time of year for everyone, but especially for Mattie and Gideon, and it might just be the gift they were both looking for.

When I sat down to read this book, it was the absolute best time I could have chosen. My daughter was napping, the house was peaceful, and the first snow of the winter season in Indiana was falling outside. (Sigh.)

For the rest of the afternoon, I just enjoyed this nice story that takes place during the Christmas season.

The Christmas Singing is by Cindy Woodsmall, and it is an Amish novella that includes characters from at least one of the author’s previous books.

One thing I liked about this book was that even though I was not familiar with the characters, I was still able to enjoy the story. There was enough background given by the author that I understood what was going on. I also liked the aspect that Mattie owned her own bakery. It was an interesting addition to the plot, and I loved the name of her shop:“Mattie Cakes.”

My one complaint is that towards the end Mattie and Gideon spend a day together, and I would have loved to go through that day with them. I felt as if the story had built up until this point, and I was disappointed to not be able to experience that day through their eyes.

The plot of The Christmas Singing is typical for a romantic Christmas story, but I still enjoyed it. I didn’t find myself being bored, even though it was comfortable. It was a great little book to curl up with on a snowy afternoon and read about the coming Christmas season.

I will give The Christmas Singing … 3 ½ BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sunday, December 18, 2011

River’s Song by Melody Carlson was sent to me as a review copy by Abingdon Press. It is the first in a new series by this author, the “Inn at Shining Waters” series.

The year is 1959, and Anna Gunderson, a widow, has lived with her daughter and her domineering mother-in-law since before her husband died. Little more than a servant, Anna has endured her life in her mother-in-law’s home without much complaint, thinking that she did not have a choice.

Then Anna finds herself travelling to her childhood home on the Siuslaw River in Oregon to pack up her deceased parents’ house and store. After being away for twenty years, much has changed on the river, which only makes Anna realize how much has changed in her own life.

The longer Anna remains on the river, the more she realizes how much she has missed. The Native American heritage that she left behind comes back to her in a great way as she works to make something out of her parents’ house and out of her own life. Anna hopes that opening The Inn at Shining Waters will help her – and others – to finding healing and peace in their lives.

If I had to choose one word to describe this novel, it would be “serene.” From the first page, the peacefulness and serenity of the river came through, so much so that I would catch myself getting a bit drowsy when I would read those descriptions! (This is a compliment, not that I was bored, but that I just felt very restful). The descriptions of the river and the surroundings, and even the recounting of the history of Anna’s family, were easy and relaxing to read.

The overall feel to the book was very smooth. The plot was straightforward, without a lot of twists and turns. While that would not be my first choice in a book (I usually like for my books to have a little more ‘adventure’ to them), I found this novel to be so unique that the lack of adventure didn’t bother me. The setting and time period were brand new to me, and the other characters were charming, which gave this book more of a spark than it might have had otherwise. The pacing was fairly steady, even though it did feel rushed towards the end.

Breaking the serenity and peacefulness of this book is the character of Anna’s mother-in-law. If ever there was a character you can love to hate, this is one. I was so upset with her that it was sometimes hard for me to read those scenes. I enjoyed the character of Anna when she was at home in her parents’ house on the river, but when she was with her mother-in-law, I didn’t like Anna very much, either. She was such a doormat and just a totally different person. Even though Anna’s mother-in-law was controlling and oppressive, I wonder why Anna didn't try to get away from her at any cost, especially since Anna’s daughter was involved.

I also was a little disappointed with the way the characters’ faith in God was handled in this novel. While I don’t expect every Christian novel I read to preach the gospel on every page, this one just seemed to gloss over too much. Anna goes through such a journey that it seemed as if more could have been said.

This novel has a ‘teaser chapter’ for the next book in this series at the end. It picks up right where this book leaves off, and this teaser did its job. I am looking forward to continuing with this series next year.

While dealing with some serious themes, River’s Song is serene, just like the river that helps Anna to heal and find peace.

I will give River’s Song … 3 ½ BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Friday, December 16, 2011

‘S’ Is for Snowman: God’s Wintertime Alphabet by Kathy-jo Wargin and illustrated by Richard Johnson is the latest installment in seasonal A-to-Z books by this author. It is a nice hardcover children’s book that goes through the alphabet naming (through rhymes) various fun, cozy, and thoughtful things to do in the wintertime.

One thing I liked about this book was that the rhyming was mostly well done. I get frustrated when the meter is off in children’s rhyming books. Sometimes I add or remove words when I’m reading them aloud, just so they sound better! There were a couple of rhymes in this book that were a bit awkward to read, but the majority of them were a delight to read aloud.

Another good thing about this book is its focus on God’s love and His blessings. So many people complain about the cold weather and other things that the season of winter brings, but this book reminds us that all things are from God, and that the beauty of winter is a blessing from Him.

My family also enjoyed this book. My 2 ½ -year-old daughter said that she liked the letters. My husband said he liked that the book showed a family interacting with whatever the letter stood for rather than it just being a book that named a winter item and showed a picture of it. For example, on the page for ’M’ is for ‘Mittens,’ it shows the family wearing mittens as they pack their car for a ski trip. The next page (‘N’) shows them on their ski trip!

The illustrations in this book are colorful and feel cozy as well. Again, the illustrations tell a story through the alphabet instead of just showing a drawing of a winter item.

I enjoyed ‘S’ Is for Snowman: God’s Wintertime Alphabet, and I know we will enjoy reading it during the winter season.

"From mittens to snowmen and angels with wings —

may your hearts know the wonders that God's winter brings."

I will give this book … 4 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zonderkidz. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."﻿

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer was sent to me as a review copy by Bethany House Publishers.

Lizzie Dawson has lived her entire life in the mountains of Alaska. Her life was a happy one until her white father decided to leave her Native (Athabascan) mother and go back to his previous life in San Francisco. And now that her mother is dead, Lizzie is alone. She has hopes of reconciling with her Native grandparents in the nearby village, but their resistance is firm.

Clay Selby has dreamed his whole life of being a missionary like his father. Finally, in 1898, he ventures to Alaska to start a church and school among the Athabascan people. When he meets Lizzie living on the outskirts of the village, he is captivated by her. But forming a friendship with Lizzie is frowned upon by the villagers, and Clay does not want to risk his already tremulous relationship with the Athabascans.

Both Clay and Lizzie have some things to learn about ministry and about forgiveness. Only God can bring peace to their lives and the lives of the people around them.

This is my first time reading a novel by Kim Vogel Sawyer, and I was excited to read a historical fiction book set in Alaska, a place I would love to visit someday. I also like stories that have sort of a ‘fish out of water’ quality to them, and Clay (and his sister, Vivian) journeying to Alaska as missionaries definitely fit the bill.

I was not immediately swept into the story, but as I kept reading, I realized that maybe this was the intention. The characters are developed very well, and there are not so many characters that you can’t keep them straight. The reader is allowed to get to know the three main characters (Lizzie, Clay, and Vivian) fully. There is a lot of detail to the description of Lizzie and her surroundings (with very little dialogue, since she lived alone), which sometimes made me feel bogged down. While I was somewhat uninterested with the descriptions at times, I did come away with a huge sense of the loneliness that Lizzie must have felt after years of living all by herself and being ostracized from the tribe.

Clay and Vivian are appropriately out of place, and it was fun to watch them adjust to their new life in Alaska. I also felt that each character’s growth in relation to their faith in God was appropriate and handled very well. Forgiveness is a major theme, since most of the story is wrapped up in the tribe’s banishment of Lizzie because of her mixed heritage.

For me, this novel did not have too much adventure to it, which is what I would expect from a book set in Alaska in 1898. It moves along at an easy and comfortable pace. There were a couple of things to figure out and ponder in relation to the characters’ lives along the way, but, for the most part, there were few surprises for me.

I also felt that I needed more closure to the end of Vivian’s story. Her story didn’t completely come to an end during the main portion of the book. Then it seemed as if we jumped over way too much when the reader is updated about her life during the epilogue.

While this book didn’t blow me away, it was a pleasant read that delivered just what the title suggests, A Whisper of Peace.

I will give A Whisper of Peace … 3 Bookworms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Monday, December 12, 2011

About the book: In this Berenstain Bears® Living Lights™ lift-the-flap book, the Bear cubs search for their collection of beautiful Christmas figures for their Nativity scene.

Thirteen fun lift-the-flaps reveal the many places that Mama has hidden these family 'bear'-looms.

About the authors: Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Though Stan died in 2005, Jan and Mike continue to create the delightful Bear adventures from their family home in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks much like the sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country.

My Take:

I don't know about you, but the Berenstain Bear books were among my very favorites when I was growing up. I still have several of these books, which I gave to my daughter just a few months ago, and she loves them.So, I was excited to get a Berenstain Bear Christmas book to review! And so was my daughter. On top of it being a Christmas book and a Berenstain Bear book, it is also a lift-the-flap book, which my daughter really enjoys. This particular book doesn’t have a lot of story to it, which is what the Berenstain Bear books are known for, but it is still a really cute book. The Bears search all over their house to find the different pieces of their Nativity scene. (This kind of reminds me of my own search every year for Christmas decorations in the basement…but not in a fun way!) Each piece is hidden behind a flap, and my daughter (she’s 2 ½ ) delighted to find all of the pieces to the manger scene.I really appreciate that there are many Berenstain Bear books out there that include God and biblical truth in them.When I asked her what she liked best about the book, my daughter said, “All of the pictures.” On the last page, she said, “They are playing with the manger scene!” I am not sure if she was excited about that or if she was afraid they were going to get into trouble for playing with it! Since this book is simpler than other Berenstain Bear books, I would recommend it more for preschoolers. It is a nice, fun book for the Christmas season.

I will give The Berenstain Bears Get Ready for Christmas ... 3 ½ BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Friday, December 9, 2011

Here is a review of a graphic novel that we requested from NetGalley. My husband, Wesley, will be writing this review.

About the Graphic Novel:Any Empire follows three kids in a Southern town as a rash of mysterious turtle mutilations forces each to confront their relationship to their privileged suburban fantasies of violence. Then after years apart, the three are thrown together again as adults, amid questions of choice and force, belonging and betrayal.

Nate Powell’s follow-up to the Eisner award-winning Swallow Me Whole examines war and violence and their trickle-down effects on middle America. As a gang of small-town kids find themselves reunited in adulthood, their dark histories collide in a struggle for the future.

Wesley’s Take:

I am a fan of graphic novels. However, I am not a purist. I like my art and books, especially graphic novels, to be entertaining. That is my main goal. If I have to try to interpret a painting, then most of the time I would rather move on to the next one. If a book isn’t entertaining, then I am not impressed. Unfortunately, Any Empire didn’t entertain me.

Please understand that this doesn’t mean that this wasn’t a well written graphic novel. This is a story about a group of kids who grow up troubled and take that into their adulthood. Sometimes, letting go of your past is the most difficult thing you ever have to do.

As I read this novel, I could totally feel the pain and angst of the main characters. I could feel how they felt. Being left out, not getting the girl, and not fitting in at all. I even totally understand the pain of having to move. All of the adults in your life tell you that it is fine and you will make new friends, or that not fitting in with that group is for the best. But, when you are a kid in the middle of all of that, it really is the most important thing in the world. And Nate Powell totally nailed those emotions. I really felt that pain, and that takes some good writing.

But that isn’t entertaining to me. I don’t want to relive those painful memories. I left my childhood behind and try not to look back too much. Some parts were not fun, and frankly neither was this graphic novel. On top of the emotions, it was often confusing to me with the different flashbacks that took place. The ending then seemed to take a very odd twist into the realm of make believe that I totally didn’t get. But, again, that really isn’t my thing. I am sure there was some deeper meaning behind it all, but I just found it confusing.

Add onto that the fact that I read this novel as an electronic copy using a program that was terrible. The pages scrolled so slowly that I never let go of the scroll button. I couldn’t see an entire page at a time, let alone two pages side by side. I realize that part of the appeal of a graphic novel is the visual impact is has on the page, so I missed out on that. This experience has taught me that trying to read graphic novels electronically just isn’t a good idea.

So, overall, this was a fairly well written graphic novel. But, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I will give Any Empire … 2 BookWorms

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Top Shelf Productions through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Alice Grace Ripley has spent most of her life with her nose stuck in a book. But a real-life adventure is about to catch up with her.

After being let go from her job as a librarian and losing her boyfriend, Alice leaves her hometown of Blue Island, Illinois, for the hills of eastern Kentucky. The Depression has hit hard all over the nation but especially in the coal mining towns. Alice ventures to the town of Acorn, Kentucky, to deliver books to the small library there. What she finds is more than she ever bargained for.

‘Wonderland Creek’ is the perfect name for this novel and the perfect name for the creek in the book, considering that ‘Alice’ is dropped into a chaotic new life that she was not expecting, complete with crazy characters. Once Alice arrives in Acorn, she is off on a whirlwind adventure – attempted shootings, fake deaths, feuds, buried treasure, and primitive conditions – that sometimes left my head spinning.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, this novel had me laughing out loud at times, and I identified with the main character, Alice, more than I care to admit. The characters were complex and had depth, but the happenings were sometimes so crazy that I felt as if someone was pulling my leg.

I am not sure how I felt about the character of Lillie, either. I liked her, and I appreciated her strength and faith, but she was such a contradiction. She had a wonderful love for Jesus, but she and Mack lied throughout the entire book! I am not saying that I wouldn’t lie in a very serious situation (I probably would if my daughter’s life or my husband’s life was in danger), but she lied (or omitted the truth) about so many things that it became manipulative (and annoying) rather than ‘helpful.’

As for the romance, I liked how it unfolded. It seemed realistic, since it was understated, so much so that I was still wondering close to the end which character she would end up with.

I always enjoy when a character takes steps of growth during a novel, and Alice definitely does in Wonderland Creek. She grows in her compassion for and understanding of people, and she grows in her faith.

The best part of this novel for me was the historical aspect. It was fascinating to read about the Packhorse Librarians who were commissioned under President Roosevelt’s New Deal. I had never heard of this before, and I really enjoyed learning about the program and how it helped those who lived in hard-to-reach areas during the Depression.

I will give Wonderland Creek … 3 ½ BookWorms

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers through their blogging program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Baby's Little Bible was written by new mom Sarah Toulmin as a way of sharing the stories she so loved with her own little ones. Her ultra-simple retellings of twenty favorite stories, from Creation to Resurrection, are filled with a sense of wonder, expressing God's love for creation.

Featuring Kristina Stephenson's heartwarming, baby-friendly illustrations, this little Bible offers lots to look at and point to while parent and child share this delightful book together.

Now available in a small format with a padded cover in either pink or blue, or as a gift edition with gilt edges and a ribbon marker, Baby's Little Bible is a perfect starter Bible to share with a much-loved child.

About the Author: Sarah Toulmin is an experienced teacher, publicist, and now full-time mom. She started writing when expecting her first child who was the inspiration for-and first critic of!-the Baby's Little Bible.

About the Illustrator: Kristina Stephenson trained as a set and costume designer and worked in theater and television before going on to illustrate children’s books. She is the illustrator of Lion’s Baby Bible (Lion, 2006) and The Angel and the Lamb (Lion, 2008).

I have started requesting more children's books to review lately, and my daughter has definitely enjoyed it! I have, too, since it gives me more of a variety to read to her.

This little Bible contains simple re-tellings of the following stories:

In the BeginningJesus and His Message

Rainy DaysThe Hole in the Roof

God Chooses a FamilyThe Good Shepherd

A Special CoatBread and Fish

A New HomeA Scary Storm

Walls Fall DownThe Little Girl

The Giant and the BoyA Prayer

The Big FishHere Comes the King

Hungry LionsThe Cross

Baby JesusAlive!

The sentences in these stories are simple, and the words would be easy to read for a beginning reader. My 2 ½-year-old daughter liked the pictures in this book. They are brightly colored, and they are cartoon-like, but not so much so that they look weird.

This is not an in-depth children's Bible (and there are no Bible references listed for the stories), but it is a nice, simple retelling of a few Bible stories. I would almost hesitate to call this "Baby's Little Bible," since it is more like a Bible story book and not a complete Bible.

When I asked my daughter what she liked best about this book, she said, "The Baby Jesus part." (I know...she's got the 'Sunday School answer' down pat already!) She also said she liked, "Noah with the animals" and that the pictures of the lions were, "scary...just a little bit."

More information about the book:

Publication: November 2011

$9.99 each

Pink: 978-0-7459-6272-6

Blue: 978-0-7459-6271-9

Padded Hardcover

160 pages each

Trim Size: 5.5 x 6.75

Publisher: Lion Children’s Books, distributed by Kregel Publications

Disclosure of Material Connection:I received this book free from Lion Children's Books through Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”